spacetoday.net: STS-114 mission extended a day

Posted: Sun, Jul 31, 2005, 10:33 AM ET (1433 GMT)
STS-114: logo (NASA)

NASA announced late Saturday that would extend the STS-114 shuttle mission by one day to allow the crew to perform additional work at the International Space Station. By keeping Discovery docked at the ISS for an additional day, the crew will be able to transfer nearly 80 additional liters of water to the station, providing an extra margin of safety for the station's two-man crew. The shuttle will also leave behind some laptops for the station and perform additional work on the station. Discovery may be the last shuttle to visit the station for some time, after NASA decided several days ago to suspend future shuttle launches until they correct the foam shedding problem experienced during last week's launch. Shuttle managers did say late Saturday that they are "almost" certain that Discovery sustained no significant damage during ascent, but will spend another day wrapping up examinations of the shuttle's exterior. Discovery is now scheduled to land at the Kennedy Space Center early on August 8.